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Beacon

The Beacon is our fellowship newsletter.

We shifted from .pdfs and hard copy to online articles at the beginning of 2019.  To view older Beacon articles, visit the pdf archive library.

Announcement and Letter from Rev. Steven Gaines

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Message from Rev. Gaines about stepping down as UUFF minister. Text of letter below.

Dear UUFF,

I have thoroughly enjoyed serving with you since I became a member in 2020! In late 2021, the Board offered me a one-year contract as your half-time minister. I was happy to accept it! After that year, I served a few more months with you.

As a full professor at a college in Midland, Texas, I did a lot of remote ministry, while being physically in NWA two weekends per month in the Fall and Spring semesters. I was also present with you in NWA for a full month during the college’s winter break and the three months of summer. That arrangement worked well in many ways but was difficult in others.

I have informed the Board that I need to exit the role of salaried UUFF Minister. I love you and enjoy working with you; however, in this role I am stretched too thin. Furthermore, you need a minister who lives in NWA. I have searched for full-time jobs in NWA and have not found one that would be better for me than the one I have in Texas. My child lives in Fayetteville, so I will be continuing the interstate life and will enjoy being a member of the UUFF community when I am here.

The Board asked me to continue in a decreased capacity through June, and I accepted the proposal. In that time, I will provide two Sunday services per month. Any other ways I choose to serve will be voluntary. This is not goodbye! It’s just an adjustment. I’m excited to discover how I might continue participating in this community, without being on payroll, and wish the best for UUFF!

In solidarity, Rev. Steven
(published April 26, 2023 in the UUFF eNews)

Justice Spotlight on Accessibility

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By Georgia Lance, UUFF Member since 1995

One of the distinctions UUFF is proud of is being a welcoming congregation. We had discussions, attended trainings and had speakers on the issue of being an inclusive congregation for LGBTQ+ people. Some of us would like to add the distinction of being a welcoming congregation for folks with disabilities. Several of us have recently formed a working group to attempt this very task. We are hoping to raise awareness, educate and help fellow members find simple ways they can help in making people with disabilities feel welcome in our fellowship.

I’d like to give a shout out to Gene Vinzant for listening to our concerns about aisles being left clutter fear and wide enough for those of us in either walkers or wheelchairs. I’ve seen great improvement in this area these last couple of months.

How to deal with service dogs is an issue I witnessed during our annual Pride Service. We had two women, one in a large electric wheelchair, with good sized service dogs, trying to cram themselves into a narrow space. It would have been a simple matter to have removed two chairs from the row behind them and give them enough space for their service animals. I suspect if anyone had offered to do that for them, they would have been very grateful.

Another disability issue we have in our congregation is both children’s and adult religious education is located downstairs, which is inaccessible to those of us in walkers or wheelchairs.
The sidewalk located on the lower level requires walking down and back up a steep incline, which is not possible for many of us. In a nutshell, the lower level of our building is off limits for some members of our fellowship. I have seen mothers carrying their children up and down the steep staircase because the children are unable to walk the stairs.

This past Sunday, three of us did a physical audit of our building and grounds, using materials from UUA, to see what is working in our building and what isn’t. We are hoping to help people understand that access for people with disabilities is a social justice issue along with the others our denomination has championed over the years. We are also hoping others will join us in exploring ways we can become a welcoming congregation for people with disabilities.

August News from the Board – including Annex Property Vote Results

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At the July 29th Board of Directors meeting, we planned the August 1st Congregational Meeting that was held after service via zoom. Meeting purpose is to present the findings from discussions with building inspectors, realtors, architects and an engineer that led us to propose that UUFF sell the Annex Property in order to provide funds in the coming years to repair and maintain the main Fellowship building.

At the congregational meeting, Leanda explained the details of the inspector’s report on the Annex building. Elizabeth reviewed our current financial status, and Joe gave an overview of the options available to us at this time. Fawn sent out informational emails/paper mailings as appropriate (as some members are unable to use internet) with paper/online ballots to vote.

According to our By-Laws, a two-thirds majority vote by UUFF members is required to sell UUFF land or buildings. As we discussed in the congregational meeting on August 1st, the Board proposed that we sell the annex property and earmark the proceeds from the sale for maintenance of and/or improvements to the main building. The recommendation by the Board to list the Annex Property for sale came after 2+ years of discussion and careful study of UUFF’s financial situation and our current needs and from recognizing (following a thorough professional inspection report) that the annex building, as it stands, is not only unfit for use, but is a liability and safety hazard.

Of our 100 verified UUFF members, eighty-nine (89) total voted – with seventy-nine (79) voting to approve listing the annex property for sale, four voting to not approve, and six abstaining from voting. Sixty-seven (67) votes were required to pass, so the proposal has passed.

As discussed during the congregational meeting, this listing/selling process will be handled thoughtfully, and the Board will explore the different options carefully in consideration of our UU principles.

Thanks to everyone who voted.

Burnetta Hinterthuer, Board President

Analysis of Needs and Preferences After Rev. Jim’s Retirement

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The Ministerial Transition Team (MTT) has finished their analysis of UUFF needs and preferences for proceeding after Rev. Jim retires on June 30th.

The MTT, under the leadership of Kate Kowalski, worked diligently to prepare these recommendations, and we are confident that they reflect the will of the membership and that they can be carried out. A Search Committee is forming and will develop the plan to find qualified candidates who are able to carry out these identifiable responsibilities. MTT based their recommendation on input received from UUFF members from the survey and focus groups, and from conducting a thorough review of UUFF’s overall financial picture.

The final review presented to the Board on April 22, 2021, revealed that:

  • We will be hiring a contract, part-time minister in the coming months; until that time, the Chalice Team will continue to provide services by using our talented staff plus gracious volunteers who have kept our services strong throughout the covid crisis. Yearly funds for guest ministers and musicians are available as needed.
  • The minister will be expected to provide two full-length sermons a month plus attend one additional service, carry out administrative duties including attending Board meetings, staying in contact with the Chalice Team, plus providing pastoral care and other related activities.

We are so grateful for the great work performed by the MTT and their delivering the final recommendations to us as soon as possible.

Burnetta Hinterthuer
UUFF Board President

To read the complete MTT analysis review document, please CLICK HERE.

Chalice Stories – “Playing Fair” the 5th Principle

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Our 5th installment of Chalice Stories is a story about the 5th listed Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large or “All People Need a Vote.”

Our story is “Playing Fair” from Janeen Grohsmeyer’s book “a lamp in every corner: our unitarian universalist story book,” and it will be for Thursday’s Chalica celebration of our Principles. Light a Chalice, and enjoy!

Chalice Stories – 3rd Principle

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Hi Y’all!

Here is our third installment of a Chalice Story to celebrate our Principles for Chalica! Our stories are from the book “a lamp in every corner” by Janeen K. Grohsmeyer, and this one is titled “The Rooster Who Learned to Crow,” illustrating our third listed Principle – Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations… or as the story puts it, “We’re free to learn together.”

So please, light a chalice or candle, enjoy the story, and contemplate how we work to help each other grow and learn, even though they may believe differently from ourselves!

Peace, Rev. Jim

Chalice Stories – 2nd Principle

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Hi Y’all!

Here is the Chalice Story for our Second listed Principle – Justice, equity and compassion in human relations… or Be Kind in all You Do.

The Story is “The Excruciatingly Scrupulous Twins” by Janeen K. Grohsmeyer, from her book “a lamp in every corner.”

Light a Chalice, relax, and enjoy the story! Then discuss the second listed Principle and its meanings as you will. Love to hear your thoughts here if you wish.

Peace,Rev. Jim

Chalice Stories: First Principle – The Weight of a Snowflake

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Celebrating our Unitarian Universalist Principles at UU Fayetteville, AR, we’re using the stories from Janeen Grohsmeyer’s book “a lamp in every corner: Our Unitarian Universalist storybook” and her series on our Principles. We’ll have seven videos, and seven stories, for seven Principles. This story is about our First listed Principle – The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person, or Each Person Is Important.